Researchers at MIT have managed to create synthetic skin inspired by the adaptive properties of cephalopods like octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish that can change its color, fluorescence, and texture simultaneously via remote control. Early applications for the skin would likely be aimed at the military uses with potential consumer applications following.

While troops and vehicles often move from one environment to another, they are presently limited to fixed camouflage patterns that might be effective in one environment but stick out like a sore thumb in another.